Have you noticed a deciduous tree that seems to have forgotten to put away its Christmas decorations? The seed balls of our native American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) are textured brown balls found hanging singly on a long stem. (The nonnative hybrid London plane tree (Plantanus acerifolia) has seed balls which usually hang in twos or threes.) Formed in fall, these seed balls hang throughout winter and typically break apart in early spring. As they disintegrate, they release a fluffy, light substance containing many seeds, sometimes referred to as “sycamore snow”.
The American sycamore is a veritable”caterpillar factory,” supporting a large biomass of insects that feed birds. Growing fast and large, it’s a good shade tree which supports biodiversity in floodplains and other wet areas.
In addition, it’s a critical larval host plant for over 42 species of moths and butterflies, most notably the sycamore tussock moth (Halysidota harrisii) and the drab prominent moth (Misogada unicolor). It also supports various beetles, provides seeds for birds, and offers habitat for cavity-nesting wildlife.
If you’ve got a wet area with room for a nice shade tree, consider planting a ‘caterpillar factory’–your feathered friends will thank you!
